Essential Drugs in short supply at govt Hospitals

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: There is a shortage of 300 types of essential drugs at government hospitals, including those for chronic conditions.

This is according to Sami Al-Abdulkarim, chairman of the Saudi Council of Chambers’ national health committee, who said patients often seek drugs at private pharmacies or abroad in Egypt and other Gulf nations.

Alabdulkarim was quoted as saying by a local newspaper recently that shortages are caused by various factors including pricing measures introduced by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). Drugs are not available for between two weeks and two months, he said.

Alabdulkarim said many medications are not available at private pharmacies because these are bought by the government through special tenders. However, some generic medications were available.

He said the ministry has a department that identifies and orders drugs on an annual basis, which then supplies hospital in batches. Prices are increasing annually, particular those for diabetes, tumors and chronic diseases.

The cost of certain medications have increased because of new requirements introduced by the SFDA, and the refusal of companies to import them when new drugs come onto the market, he said.

Abdulrahim Qari, a member of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the lack of certain drugs was also caused by poor organization at the ministry and wastage at hospitals.